The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST 

Tribune Staff Reporter 

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

AS MIAMI-based protesters celebrate a perceived human rights victory, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell remained tight-lipped yesterday over the issuance of visas to Cuban detainees by Panama.

Panama’s Foreign Affairs ministry has confirmed that allegations of human rights abuses against Cuban detainees in the Bahamas were among the considerations that led to its decision to grant the 19 Cuban nationals territorial asylum.

Cuban exile group “Democracy Movement” suspended its nearly two-month-long protest and hunger strike yesterday on the condition that the Bahamas government releases the Cubans to Panama.

In a press conference yesterday, hunger strikers Raul Sanchez and Jesus Gomez said their decision came after the government of the Bahamas agreed to reopen an investigation of torture in their migrant detention centre.

In the House of Assembly yesterday, Mr Mitchell charged that his government did not make agreements with protesters, whom he again condemned as misdirected and defamatory.

“You could protest until the cows comes home,” Mr Mitchell said. “This country operates on rules and regulations.”

He said: “We do not condone violence against detainees or any mistreatment of any kind.”

Mr Mitchell said: “We are seeking to protect our interests. The country says we’re working expeditiously to put this problem behind us. For me, the answer is soon as the detainees have gone home, or gone to countries who are willing to accept them – that is the position on that.”

Mr Mitchell added that the government was engaged in active discussions with the US government on related issues, and has agreed to allow a senior official with oversight over Population, Refugees, and Migration, to visit the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

Panama’s Foreign Ministry released a statement  on Sunday to confirm that it would provide territorial asylum for 19 Cuban nationals detained in The Bahamas.

The statement read: “Throughout their history as a nation, Panama has granted, based on international humanitarian law, protection to citizens of other countries who are persecuted for political or are undergoing treatment endangering life and limb.”

It added: “Allegations of human rights bodies, who have warned about the treatment of detained Cuban citizens in the Bahamas, has been one of the considerations that has based this decision of Government.”

Mr Sanchez, president of Democracy Movement, spoke with The Tribune on Sunday when he and his organisation expressed gratitude to the Panamanian government for granting visas to the detainees held at Her Majesty’s Fox Hill Prison and the Carmichael Road Detention Centre.

However, it is unclear whether or not the six Cubans being held at Her Majesty’s Prison for “disorderly and violent behaviour” are among the detainees granted asylum. There are reportedly 43 Cuban nationals currently being held in The Bahamas. 

Last night, Mr Mitchell said: “I have no comments on this and that remains the position.”

Protests have taken place since June at the Bahamas consulate in Miami and near the piers where cruise ships leave for the Bahamas, drawing support from members of the US Congress and Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

Three Cuban detainees currently being held at HMP, Mauricio Valdez, Randy Rodriguez and Pedro Parrado, are expected to appear before Supreme Court Justice Carolita Bethel next week for a hearing on whether or not they will proceed with a habeas corpus application.

The men agreed to await the outcome of resettlement interviews with United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, that are due to be completed this week.

Last week, dozens of vehicles drove through downtown Miami with signs protesting the alleged mistreatment.

Mr Mitchell has maintained that the government did not receive any specific, credible claims of abuse and no investigation was being conducted.

He said officials had looked into the video released by supporters of the detained Cubans allegedly showing men being struck by guards in the detention centre and determined it was “clearly a staged event.”

During his house contribution yesterday, Mr Mitchell confirmed that investigations into allegations made by protesters and detainees were ongoing. 

Mr Mitchell said: “The government proposes that moving forward the preliminary investigations which have been commenced will be augmented by formal investigation headed by a former Justice of the Court of Appeal and senior members of the legal fraternity.” He added: “We expect that this review will commence shortly and that a report will be made to us as soon as possible. We will review the report and act accordingly, and take any punitive or disciplinary action as deemed necessary.”